Food Scientists and Technologists pay in California
$97,980avg. a year
$47.11 an hour · 2,210 employed
Food Scientists and Technologists in California earn an average of $97,980 a year. That is $2,620 (3%) more than the U.S. average of $95,360. The best-paying metro area is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA at $117,020.
$93,950Median pay
$47.11Average hourly
+16%Avg. pay since 2020
#13Of 39 states
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for food scientists and technologists by metro area. Swipe to see all 17.
150 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$117,020
$56.26 an hour
2380 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$110,580
$53.17 an hour
340 jobs
Merced, CA
$102,000
$49.04 an hour
4550 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$96,580
$46.43 an hour
5110 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$96,510
$46.40 an hour
680 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$94,460
$45.42 an hour
790 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$94,240
$45.31 an hour
830 jobs
Salinas, CA
$93,080
$44.75 an hour
960 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$92,850
$44.64 an hour
1060 jobs
Visalia, CA
$92,300
$44.38 an hour
1180 jobs
Modesto, CA
$92,170
$44.31 an hour
12170 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$92,050
$44.26 an hour
13110 jobs
Fresno, CA
$89,920
$43.23 an hour
1440 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$89,910
$43.23 an hour
1580 jobs
Napa, CA
$89,210
$42.89 an hour
1650 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$86,410
$41.54 an hour
1730 jobs
Hanford-Corcoran, CA
$82,740
$39.78 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Food Scientists and Technologists pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California food scientists and technologists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $85k$85k–$90k$90k–$101k$101k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $95,360 | $45.85 |
| California | $97,980 | $47.11 |
| Arizona | $89,580 | $43.07 |
| Oregon | $84,820 | $40.78 |
| Nevada | $82,220 | $39.53 |
Related jobs in California
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$140,120
- Biological Scientists, All Other$123,840
- Biochemists and Biophysicists$148,550
- Conservation Scientists$88,030
- Microbiologists$114,790
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$106,470
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do food scientists and technologists make in California?
The average is $97,980 a year, and the median is $93,950. That is $2,620 (3%) more than the U.S. average of $95,360.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$47.11 an hour on average; the median is $45.17.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($117,020), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($110,580). The lowest average among 17 metro areas with data is Hanford-Corcoran, CA ($82,740).
How does California rank?
California ranks #13 of 39 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 19-1012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national food scientists and technologists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.